National Mall Plan

"The National Park Service is in the perpetuity business."
- Jon Jarvis, National Park Service Director

 

On Tuesday, November 9, 2010, standing at the foot of the Jefferson Memorial, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis signed the Record of Decision, officially releasing the final National Mall Plan. The Mall Plan provides a framework for the future of the park over the next fifty years, and offers a comprehensive blueprint for the restoration and improvement of our National Mall.  This is one of only a small number of plans ever developed for the National Mall since its visionary inception in 1791 by Pierre L’Enfant – it is truly an historic document.

Four years in the making, the Mall Plan sets an ambitious but achievable vision for a sustainable National Mall, an iconic place that will welcome, inspire, and instill pride in its 25 million annual visitors.  I know you will join me in congratulating the National Park Service for their achievement creating this visionary plan, which incorporated more than 34,000 comments from all 50 states.

The National Mall Plan is a visionary document that will improve the ability of the National Mall to fulfill its multiple and sometimes conflicting purposes to:

- Function as our nation's civic stage

- Preserve our symbols of democracy

- Provide space for public enjoyment, education and recreation

The Plan will:

  1. Ensure that the National Mall is a model of cleanliness and ecologically sustainable practices, identifying strategies and projects that improve the health and appearance of the historic landscape while reversing the deterioration that comes with increased park use.

  2. Revitalize the National Mall so it can continue to be the most prominent stage for civic activities in our nation. This will include redesigning some venues, facilities, and infrastructure as well as upgrading permit processes.

  3. Provide visitors with convenient, clean facilities and necessary services and amenities. While some visitor facilities have been upgraded recently, many  are outdated and overused. The plan will cover restrooms, food service and recreation rentals, as well as park furniture, signs, pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation.

  4. Enhance the visitor experience. The plan will recommend new educational and cultural programs, activities and recreation to enrich the educational experience of National Mall visitors.

  5. Engage the public. To sustain the National Mall for future generations, the plan will identify improvement projects that can be implemented through the partnership between the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall and volunteers.

 

For more information on the National Mall Plan, click here.